Feature article

A seamless architectural extension that doubles living space and connects home and landscape

An architect-builder duo reinvented their modest Avondale cottage with smart design and seamless family living.

Homestyle
Last updated: 8 May 2026 | 3 min read
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An architect-builder duo, Maria and James Hosking, transformed their modest Avondale cottage into a seamless family home. The clever renovation doubled the footprint with a new bedroom-wing extension, wrapping the architecture around a central courtyard and creating a strong connection between indoor and outdoor living.

Key features include a glazed corridor, custom American walnut cabinetry, and smart, cost-effective design choices. The result is a modern, functional home that masterfully integrates with its landscape and is now for sale.

A warm, layered living space shaped for everyday family life

Highlights in the dining space include Bush Forms artworks by Maria’s mum Kieran Taylor, a stoneware pendant light by Adam Cornish from Cult and a set of stackable Bo chairs by Philippe Starck that’ll be bulletproof during George’s toddler years.

The dried display above the built-in cabinet in the dining area was created by Mark Antonia for the couple’s wedding. The blue vessel below it is by Neil Castle and the bowl is by Dinosaur Designs.

Architectural Extension

A long, slender bedroom wing extends beneath the original roofline, doubling the home’s footprint while wrapping the courtyard into the architecture. A glazed corridor runs its length, maintaining a constant visual connection to the outdoors, while sliding timber screens and glass doors allow the spaces to shift between openness and privacy through the seasons.

The couple designed this pergola (along with an almost invisible steel beam support) to provide shad

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